UNICEF Spotlights Staggering Impact of Syrian War on Children

United Nations, Aug. 26 (Antara/Xinhua-OANA) - Fran Equiza, Syrian Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), spotlighted Friday what he called "the staggering impact" of the war on children across Syria.

"Heavy fighting have displaced thousands of families from Raqqa city and Deir-ez-Zour," said Equiza, adding that he was "overwhelmed" by the profoundly "traumatizing experiences" children had been through.

"They have endured brutal violence and lost friends and family members," he said.

Equiza just wrapped up a visit to camps in Areesha, Ein Issa and Mabrouka, where he met with displaced children.

UNICEF had received reports that thousands of children were trapped in Raqqa in the direct line of fire and that the city was completely cut off from life-saving assistance.

Equiza stressed that children and families who wished to leave Raqqa city must be allowed to do so in safety and in dignity.

For its part, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday that it had been supporting routine immunization programs which restarted in north-west Syria.

As of this month, more than 35 centers in Idlib and Hama offered vaccinations against diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, polio and whooping cough